Signaling device



Jan. 19; 1937. r; AUFIERO 2,068,256

SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Oct. 3, 1934' INVENTOR. EMANUEL AUFIEEO,

ATTORNEYS.

i atenteci Jan. 19 1533? snare-Pr ce SIGNALING DEVICE Emanuel Aufiero, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to E. A. Laboratories, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y.,- a corporation of New York Application ctober 3, 1934, Serial No. 746,635 6 Claims. (01; 116-138) I acteristics' in this connection may be varied in This invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved type of warning signal capable of use in numerous different associations, but primarily intended for application to automobiles, motor boats, and other vehicles employing internal combustion engines, as well as any other installation where there is available a source of vacuum. g

It is an object of the invention to provide a warning signal in which there will be embodied structurally and functionally improved characteristics resulting in a clear and penetrating, but not unpleasant, tone or sound, and which may be heard over relatively great distances and will serve to give ample warning to pedestriansand others. a

A further object of the invention is that of furnishing an apparatus of this nature which, for example, may readily be associated with an internal combustion motor, and which will in no wise interfere with the efficiency of theoperation of the latter.

A still further object of the invention is that of providing a warning signal which will embody relatively few parts, each individually simply and rugged in construction, these parts being capable of manufacture by automatic machinery and methods and being, moreover, capable of ready assemblage to furnish a unitary structure operating over long periods of time with freedom from difiiculties.

With these'and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawing illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention, and in which the single view is a sectional side elevation through the rear or base of the horn. i

A warning signal of the present type is known to those skilled in the art as a vacuum horn. In other words, this apparatus sets up vibrations at acoustical frequencies and depends for its drive or operation upon a source of vacuum. This source of vacuum may, for example, be rendered available by tapping the intake manifold of an internal combustion motor and connecting thereto a tube within which there may be conveniently interposed a vacuum tank or reservoir and with which tube there is, moreover, associated a valve so that the flow of the air through the tube or conduit may be controlled and in turn control the operation of the horn. In view of the fact that the expedients for securing a source of vacuum are well known to those skilled in the art, and, moreover, in view of the fact that the various structural charinnumerable ways, illustration thereof has been dispensed with, such illustration being unnecessary and immaterial to a consideration of the present invention.

, With this in mind it will be seen that, as shown, the horn may include casing portions l and 2 to provide a forward chamber 3 and what might be termed a rearward portion 4. The casingportions may be coupled as, for example, by having'the edge 5 of the portion i fit into the overlapping flanged edge 6 of the portion 2 and securing these parts by screws 1 or otherwise. The casing I has a forward opening 8 to which a trumpet portion 9 of any desired contour is secured. This trumpet portion, in the usual manner, serves as a projector for the directional distribution of sound-waves.

The inner end of the opening or pass-age 8 may be defined by a flange l0, which preferably extends into the casing I to a plane short of the plane within which the edge 5 extends. While the proportion of the parts may be varied in numerous respects, I have found that it is preferable in certain respects to have the opening 8 one-fourth the greatest diameter of the chamber 3 and to have the flange 10 of twenty-five per cent greater diameter than the opening or bore 8.

Bearing against the flange l 0 is a disk l8 which may be formed of thin metal stock. Again while not essential it is preferred that the diameter of this disk be twenty-five per cent greater than the diameter of the flange I 0. The disk may be conveniently mounted by having the same centrally apertured and threaded on to a bolt I 9. Accidental detachment of the parts may be prevented by utilizing, for example, a nut mounted upon the bolt i9 and bearing against a washer which in turn engages the face of the disk or valve I8. To the rear of the latter element a cushioning disk or washer 2! may encircle the bolt, this disk being conveniently formed of Bakelite.

Now with a View to mounting the valve or disk, it is preferred to employ a resilient strip I4 which may have one of its ends extending between and anchored by the opposed flange portions 5 and 6. Moreover, the end of this strip may be apertured so as to permit of the passage therethrough of one end of the shank of one of the bolts 1. In line with the center of the opening or bore 8 the strip is formed with an opening to accommodate the bolt l9, and this latter, together with the parts carried thereby,

is properly supported. Such supporting necessarily results in the face of the disk or valve l8 being pressed against the flange Ill. The intimacy of contact between these parts may be varied as, for example, by extending the strip l4 beyond the point at which it mounts the bolt IS in the form of reversely extending bends l6 and I1. The free end of the strip is engaged by a screw l2 which extends through the threaded bore of a boss H and which may be locked against movement by means of a nut l3. bviously by projecting this screw to a greater or lesser extent the degree of the engagement of the disk with the flange may be varied. In any event, however, it is preferred that the strip have sufficient inherent resiliency and have its inner portion l5 so disposed Within the channel formed in one or both of the flanged portions 5 or 6 for the purpose of this accommodation that it, of itself, will cause the disk to be pressed against the flanged portion.

The casing 2 is formed with an opening 22 connected in any suitable manner to a source of vacuum such, for example, as the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. When so connected it is obvious that the vacuum created within the chamber 3-4 will cause the valve to unseat from the flange and cause the strip portions l6, I l and I! to be moved to an extent such that the vacuum in the chamber portions is released, whereupon the valve will move towards the trumpet portion 9,this operation being repeated with such frequency that a warning sound is produced. The production of such sound is to be attributed to one of two factors, or else a combination of such factors. Under proper conditions of vacuum and with sufficient pressure exerted by the spring, the valve will seat and unseat with such rapidity that a proper sound will result. Viewed from another aspect, the inrush of air will cause an unseating of the valve, which latter will thereupon vibrate at a high rate of speed while maintained in unseated condition by the column of air. This will, of course, cause pulsation of the air column, again resulting in the desired effect.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically afore noted are achieved. It is to be understood that numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to without in any sense departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A warning signal including a casing formed with intake and outlet openings, a valve disposed within said casing, a spring secured to said valve and normally urging the same into intake-sealing position, said spring comprising a strip portion extending beyond said valve and rearwardly within said casing, and adjusting means mounted by said casing and bearing against said strip to vary the tension thereon.

2. A warning signal including a pair of casing portions, co-acting flanges forming a part of said casing portions whereby the same may be brought into sealing engagement, a strip having one of its ends disposed between such casing portions, said strip being resilient, and said casing portions being respectively formed with intake and outlet openings, and a valve mounted by said strip and engaging the surfaces of said casing portion having the inlet opening therein.

3. A sounding device including a casing formed with inlet and outlet openings, a spring having one of its ends mounted by said casing, a valve for normally closing said inlet opening and mounted by said spring, said spring extending beyond the point of mounting said valve, and means for supporting the extended end portion of said spring to assist the latter in maintaining the normal position of such valve. 7

4. A sounding device including a casing'formed with inlet and outlet openings, a spring having one of its ends mounted bysaid casing, a valve for normally closing said inlet opening and mounted by said spring, said spring extending beyond the point of mounting said valve, and means adjustably carried by said casing and bearing against the extended end portion of said spring whereby the tension of the latter may be varied.

5. A sounding device including a casing formed with inlet and outlet openings, 'a valve for closing said inlet opening, a spring strip, means for securing one end of said strip to said casing, means for securing said valve to said strip, and said strip being bent upon itself at a point beyond the point at which said valve is secured thereto and connecting with said casing to normally maintain said valve in inlet-closing position.

6. A sounding device including a casing formed with inlet and outlet openings, a valve for closing said inlet opening, a spring strip, means for securing one end of said strip to said casing, means for securing said valve to said strip, said strip being bent upon itself at points beyond that at which said valve is secured, and means adjustable with respect to said casing and extending inwardly thereof to contact said strip adjacent its end portion whereby to normally maintain said valve in inlet covering position.

EMANUEL AUFIERO. 

